Film counter
Emulsion is a mood you load in the dark
Film choice ties together grain, latitude, and how you plan to develop and scan your work — the counter groups stock by look, speed, and format.
Color negative
Daylight-balanced color negative forgives exposure drift and loves warm skin tones in forgiving light. It is often the gentlest first roll when metering is still new.
- Expose for shadows; highlights recover in scanning more than you expect.
- Counter light and fluorescent interiors may shift hue — plan white balance in post.
Black-and-white
Monochrome teaches contrast and separation without color distraction. Developers and scanning curves change grain structure — ask how the lab handles your preferred look.
ISO and format
- 100 Fine grain for bright days and tripods.
- 400 Flexible daily stock for shade and indoor window light.
- 35 Classic 35mm cassettes — widely available cameras and scanners assume this width.
- 120 Medium format for taller frames; cameras are often heavier and slower.